1 MAY 2020 NEWSLETTER TO THE UNITED PARISH For all Church enquiries please contact Caroline Wildgoose on 01371 606110, email [email protected]. Curate Revd Janet Parker is on 01371 870920 email [email protected]. For Magazine enquiries, contact Angela Harbottle on 01371 876707 email [email protected]. Our website: www.fiveparishes.org.uk (The normal publishing criteria covering content apply in this document)

TO ALL OUR READERS

Welcome to our e-magazine! During lockdown The Five Parishes Magazine will be on our website www.thefiveparishes.org.uk and on the Facebook village groups for , Duton Hill/ , and Great Easton and any other sites that we discover! However, we are conscious that those who are possibly in greater need of the information we are giving may not have computer access. Feel free to print this off and pass it on to anyone you know. Also, we will send it by post if given the address of anyone who wants us to do so. However, to follow official guidance, the envelope will contain advice not to open it within the advised timing and then to follow the hand washing rules.

We have, of course, said a fond farewell to Revd Tim Goodbody, although sadly not in the manner planned. Some 130 viewed online his last service on 19th April, at the end of which a coffee maker was delivered to his house as a present from the Pilgrim Parishes. Contact details to use during the vacancy are given at the top of this newsletter. A member of the Pilgrim Parishes ministerial team will be writing the letter that appears in all the magazines/newsletters the Pilgrim Parishes. Our first one is from:

REVD CANON CILLA HAWKES, ASSISTANT PRIEST IN THE PILGRIM PARISHES AND AREA DEAN:

Dear Friends, I am writing this in Holy Week, as we draw near to the darkest day in the Christian Year, Good Friday, when Jesus died on the cross after betrayal and pain. I am writing too in an extraordinary and dark time for people in this country and across the world.

Coronavirus is taking its toll in lives and health and economics; in fact in everything we have held as normal. For some people it is far worse but you know what normal things you are missing. It might be coffee with a friend, going to work or working at all, cuddling your grandchildren, going to the pub or planning a wedding or, sadly, not getting to the funeral of a friend. Even the churches have been closed which matters not only to those who worship regularly but to those of you who like a quiet sit in the church or value the symbolism of the building. To show how rare it is to lock all churches some do not even have a key to the door! I don’t know what stage we’ll have reached when you read this in May, but I pray that the worst will be over and we will be moving towards a new kind of normality.

However during the dark times things have continued which have certainly given me hope. The bulbs have come up, the birds are nesting, the crops are being cultivated and my new grandson has continued to grow apace. Hope has also been shown hugely in the kindness which has abounded as people watch out for neighbours, friends and family, PPE kit is sewn for nurses, firms and scientists co-operate to develop ventilators and to research testing kits. Hope is the light that shines in and banishes total darkness.

It is extraordinary that this terrible drama has been played out at this time in the church’s year. The darkness of Jesus’ death when it seemed that all hope was gone was terrible, yet it was followed by his Resurrection on Easter Day. This Easter rising has given hope to many down the years when dark days have come. 2 You will read this, as I say, after Easter when things may have changed for the better although much may remain difficult and testing. If the churches are open, they will be welcoming all to come and to celebrate that fact, but also will be the space where we can reflect on what has happened. We will still be celebrating the Easter story that Jesus by his death and Resurrection did overcome darkness and remains ‘The Light of the World’.

Tim will have left us after being our vicar, caring for us for some years and will be making a new start and we continue to wish him well. He has grown a team who will be alongside anyone who is in darkness holding a candle of hope, or sharing their joy.

Here are some verses from a hymn we sing in church that sums up some of what all of us are doing. With every Blessing, Cilla

Brother, Sister, let me serve you, I will hold the Christlight for you let me be as Christ to you; in the night-time of your fear; pray that I may have the grace to I will hold my hand out to you, let you be my servant too. Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.

CORONAVIRUS COVID-19

Grateful thanks and prayers for their well-being go to everyone involved in the nation’s care: doctors and medical staff and NHS key workers and volunteers, staff at care homes and undertakers, crematoria staff, emergency services, in-house carers and all those in key jobs. Clapping for our carers at 8pm on a Thursday evening has become the nation’s sign of appreciation. As we prepare this, we say a very Happy 100th Birthday to Capt Tom Moore, whose fundraising for the NHS has inspired us all.

Details of support groups (for shopping etc, for supplies of fruit, veggies, bread and other necessities, for take-away food) are given below. Volunteers are doing this as a service to the community, and not for personal gain.

BROXTED

There is a large group of amazing people across the village who have offered to help in whatever ways they can. It might be: getting your shopping, collecting prescriptions (one of the volunteers works at Elsenham surgery, so please do get in touch if you need your prescription collecting), dog walking, collecting pet food from Pets at Home, a quick chat on the phone (or video if you’re feeling brave), or anything else. If you need help, please contact one of the following: Rachel Kesterton, Lesley Holt, Sarah Cousins. Call the editor, Angela, for their contact details.

Fruit, vegetables and eggs can be bought at The Prince of Wales from 10am-12 noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Take-away food and beer is available from 12 noon-2pm and 4- 7pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Telephone 01279 850256.

3 DUTON HILL/TILTY

Christopher and John are providing a great service by supplying a take-away and delivery service at The Three Horseshoes. They offer a typical chip shop and burger bar menu, with nice, juicy and crispy cod & chips as their signature dish. For the full menu, see their Facebook page, Food in The Shoes. They have an off-premises licence so both food and drink can be collected or delivered. They cannot, however, deliver real ale. This must be collected by the customer in his or her own container such as a clean drink bottle. Opening hours are currently Thursday/Sunday 5-8pm. Contact Christopher on 01371 870591 (home) or at the pub 01371 870681.

Essential provisions such eggs, bread, fruit and veg are being provided by Darren Cuttmore in the pub car park, Tuesday/Saturday, 3-6pm.

GREAT EASTON

Peter Neale is picking up bread to order, for collection by the buyer from Great Easton Village Hall, between 1-2.30pm on Tuesdays and Fridays. Orders to Peter by latest 5pm on the previous day.

Dave Scott at The Swan offers an amazing array of fruit, vegetables, groceries, drinks and household goods. Dave obtains the goods twice weekly for collection from The Swan or, in special cases, for delivery to your home. Follow Dave on the Facebook Great Easton Village Group, and contact him either through Messenger or by email to [email protected] for a copy of the product list and his terms and conditions, both too long to repeat here.

LITTLE EASTON

Five Parishes Isolated Shop: In an effort to support local businesses and help local people during the ongoing Coronavirus situation, Andy Mahoney at Little Easton Manor has opened a “Five Parishes Isolated Shop”. The shop sells essential food and household items and has quickly built up a comprehensive stock list and an expanding customer base. The shop is not for profit and offers zero contact collection of orders.

The preferred method of ordering is through the online order form. This form, together with instructions on how to use it and a full list of the items currently in stock, can be found on the Little Easton Manor website at www.littleastonmanor.co.uk.

However, if you know of anyone who does not have internet access but would benefit from using the shop, orders can be given by calling Andy Mahoney on 07836 777789 or Andy Dodsley on 07789 223205. Pre-payment for orders is by bank transfer only and no cash will be accepted as this is a zero-contact shop. Please tell any of your neighbours who could benefit from this service.

The Stag is operating a take-out service. Call 01371 870214 in advance to order and get a pre- booked pick up time. Wednesdays are curry evenings, Thursdays burger & chips or lasagne, Fridays battered fish & chips, from 5-8pm. Sunday Roasts (beef, turkey or pork) from 12-4pm.

MONK STREET

The Farmhouse Inn are taking bookings within opening hours on 01371 830864 for take-aways which are available on Sunday 12-4.30pm, Monday 6.30-8pm, Tuesday & Wednesday 12.30- 2pm and 6.30-8.30pm, Thursday 12.30-2.30pm and 6.30-9pm and Friday & Saturday 12.30- 4 2.30pm and 6.30-9.30pm. Menus are available on Facebook and on www.farmhouseinn.org but these do change regularly.

UTTLESFORD COMMUNITY RESPONSE/ CORONAVIRUS

Uttlesford Community Response has been set up to help direct residents who need support, such as picking up shopping or prescriptions or being a telephone or Facebook friend. It can also provide advice on where to register your offer of help to support your community. Please contact the help line, call 0333 340 8218, 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, or email [email protected].

ESSEX WELFARE SERVICE

The Welfare Service is delivering essential supplies to those most at risk. If you’re over 70, pregnant or have underlying health issues, and you do not have help from friends, family or local support, the Essex Welfare Service can help. Visit www.essexwelfareservice.org.uk or call on 0300 303 9988. The helpline is open Monday to Friday from 8am-7pm and Saturday to Sunday from 10am-2pm.

ESSEX LIBRARIES E-AUDIO AND E-BOOK SERVICE

Book lovers accessing the e-library have increased by 22% over the last two weeks. The number of e-comics available has increased from 238 to over 1,500, all with unlimited access. Ancestry and Find My Past have been made available for customers to use from home. The Times Digital Archive and British Library 19th century newspapers are now available to library members who have just joined the service online. At a time when many parents are trying to keep young children happy in their homes, the online rhyme time service is proving immensely popular. For more information visit www.essex.gov.uk/libraries.

FINANCIAL HELP

Uttlesford District Council (UDC) has issued the first grants to businesses facing financial difficulties as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In total almost £9 million has been paid out to around 800 businesses. Businesses which have not done so already are urged to register their details online so that their grant funding can be processed as soon as possible. UDC are also there to help those struggling to pay council tax with support and advice on rescheduling their payments. Go to website www.uttlesford.gov.uk/coronavirus.

MSE Money Tips contains lots of financial advice from Martin Lewis OBE. Go to www.moneysavingexperts.com.

MENTAL WELLBEING

Every Mind Matters, Mind and the Livewell Today websites all give advice and tips on how to look after your mental wellbeing while staying at home, as well as guidance if you’re feeling worried or anxious about the coronavirus outbreak. Staying at home for a prolonged period can be difficult, frustrating and lonely for some people. It can be particularly challenging if you don’t have much space or access to a garden. It’s important to remember to take care of your mind as well as your body and to get support if you need it.

HELP FOR CRITICAL WORKERS TO FIND CHILDCARE

Some childcare providers are staying open to support critical worker parents. If you need support in finding childcare, you can email at [email protected]. 5 GENERAL ADVICE

Go to www.gov.uk/coronavirus. If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, you can call 18001 111 on a text phone or using the Next Generation Text (NGT) Lite app on your smartphone, tablet or computer or access the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service through www.nhs.uk/111.

SAFFRON SCREEN and SAFFRON HALL

While both of these entertainment centres are closed for the duration, they offer online a range of films and musical entertainment for adults and children alike.

NEWS FOR ALL PARISHES

CHURCH SERVICES – AND OTHER OPTIONS

As explained elsewhere, all church services have been suspended. However, through the technical dexterity of many people throughout our parishes, some wonderful online services have taken place, each featuring contributions from various congregation members.

If you want to take part, our Administrator, Caroline Wildgoose, will email you weekly with details of the services, as well as the order of service and the words of the prayers and hymns to maximise participation. Her details are at the start of page 1. If you want to view past services, go to YouTube, search for “Pilgrim Parishes Contingency Church” or connect to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2eCJmlRv5W_giGT9Ea-bHw.

REVD JANET PARKER’S EASTER PACKAGE

Revd Janet had planned to send an Easter package to everyone on the Five Parishes Electoral Roll. Unfortunately before they were posted we were asked not to post or hand deliver anything to our parishioners. This is a photograph of what was in the package. While you did not actually receive one, it does come to each and every one of you, whether you attend church or not, with our love and best wishes in this difficult time.

Our church buildings may be locked but please be assured, God and our hearts are with everyone and if anyone would like to talk about anything or metaphorically thump a cushion, please do give Janet a ring on 01371 870920. Prayers were said on a half-hourly rota throughout a 24-hr period during Easter and you were all very much in our thoughts.

BIBLE IN PICTURES

Each week we hope to place a new picture on the Five Parishes website – under Bible in Pictures. The picture is of a scene in the following Sunday’s bible passage in church, it is for both children and adults to colour in and has a Bible Reading and some gentle questions to help us think about our own discipleship. For queries, contact Revd Janet (see top of page 1). 6 THE COUNTESS OF WARWICK COUNTRY SHOW

Warwick Newbury writes: As at the date of writing I should like to share with you our current thinking as to whether or not to cancel the Show this year. Tim Turner, the Show’s Chairman, has taken soundings and, whilst there are different views, the decision is not to cancel, at least not yet. Cancellation in due course is, of course, a real possibility but it would be a pity to cancel now only to find that come August we could have gone ahead.

However planning or taking action at present is almost impossible so we shall almost certainly end up with a less ambitious programme than usual but no matter. Andy Mahoney is happy to keep the Manor free and is, indeed, keen that the Show goes on if possible, so please keep Sunday/Bank Holiday Monday 30th/31st August free.

THE FRIENDS OF THE FIVE PARISHES 50% CLUB

Brian Miller writes: In these difficult times we still operate The Five Parishes 50% Club and, although our churches are closed with services only taking place online, the April draw took place with a non-member pulling out cork No. 31. The lucky winner was Thelma Adams of Great Easton who was delighted to receive the cheque for £50. It was a lovely surprise as she said “we never expect to win”.

IN MEMORIAM

With much sadness we announce the loss of these dear people:

Joe Brett of Little Easton sadly passed away on 1st April in Epping Hospital, aged 90. He had just become a Great Grandfather to Evelyn Rose who was born on 30th March and was named after Joe’s late wife, Evelyn, or Evie as many of us knew her. Joe’s family were able to tell him that he had become a Great Grandfather. Joe was also a member of the over 60s in Little Easton and always had a sweet tooth when it came to Anne’s delicious meringues. Joe will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Samuel Monk of Cranham Road, Broxted also passed away peacefully on 1st April while in Addenbrooke’s Hospital. His funeral took place on 21st April in Broxted church with family attendance only. We send our sincere condolences to Dawn and Gary and Sam’s family and friends.

Jane Askew passed away in the early hours of 8th April, aged 84, at Croft House Care Home, Dunmow where she had been living for some months. During her long association with the Five Parishes, she had been churchwarden at both Tilty and Broxted churches, had served on the Parochial Church Committee and on the Deanery Synod. A short service of remembrance conducted by Revd Tim and attended by her immediate family took place on 17th April at Tilty, followed by a private cremation. We send our sincere condolences to Chris and Julie, Jill and George and Andrew and Jenny and to all their families and friends.

GREAT EASTON CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

Like the rest of the world, it is a very worrying time for everyone involved in our school community at the moment. The great thing about working with children is that they are a great distraction and always want to play which lightens the mood in any situation. Our school is a very different place at the moment – we are open to our key workers’ children and have between 1 and 5 children each day. We must observe social distancing rules in school and so children from different families are in different classrooms. We follow Joe Wicks’ online PE 7 session each morning, then do some maths or writing work, have long playtimes in the sun, and then a bit more work before lunch. The afternoons are made up of another long playtime session and then some more work.

Staff are in daily contact with their class via an excellent app called Class Dojo. Children at home are able to upload work, post photos and record messages and staff can respond to the children via the app. Some classes have also had group chats using online platforms which has resembled the usual chaos of the school day! Mrs Bennett has been posting weekly updates sharing some of her favourite pieces of music and, as we missed our Easter Service, she and Molly recorded the songs on the piano so we could all join in at home and have our own special assembly.

We really hope everyone is staying at home, staying safe and finding some fun things to do to fill their days. We have been so lucky with the weather and I have loved my daily walks with Ted the dog.

Much love to everyone reading this, and hopefully we will soon be back to normal. Holly Miles, Year 4/5 Teacher/Assistant Headteacher

FIVE PARISHES FARE – YOUR FAVOURITE RECIPES

This recipe uses store cupboard ingredients which is an advantage in these unprecedented times. We are sure the children would love to help with these crunchy biscuits.

Chocolate Crunchies Makes about 36 biscuits

225g (8oz) butter or margarine 115g (4oz) caster sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 225g (8oz) self-raising flour 25g (1oz) cocoa 25g (1oz) drinking chocolate

Cream together the butter and sugar with the vanilla extract until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the flour, cocoa and drinking chocolate. Now comes the fun. With well washed hands, roll the mixture into spheres the size of golf balls. Place on a lined baking tray and flatten with a damp fork. Bake at 180°C, Gas 4, for 8-10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Store in a plastic box or airtight tin. Please make sure children are supervised when using the hot oven.

VILLAGE ROUND-UP

BROXTED

Broxted Parish Council Meetings: The council will be meeting remotely on 14 May at 7pm. Please note that this is an hour earlier than the normal starting time. All are welcome – please contact the clerk for details of how to join and the technology we will be using. The agenda and guidance for joining the meeting will be on the website. This will also be on the notice-boards at Cranham Road and by the post-box at Brick End in the usual way.

Website: The Parish Council’s new website is at https://broxted-pc.gov.uk. Please contact the clerk Kate Rixson on [email protected] or 01371 870711 with any parish council queries. 8 Broxted and District Community Association The Annual General Meeting, scheduled for 22nd April, has been postponed. The new date will be publicized in due course.

Broxted Covid-19 Support Group Details of the help and support available are given in the Covid-19 Section.

DUTON HILL & TILTY

Chairman of Duton Hill Community Assocn writes: During these unprecedented times, where we are in lockdown, we must continue to thank our friends and neighbours for adhering to the government rules and staying at home so that we can save lives. We shall continue to bang our pots on Thursdays at 8pm, thanking our NHS local staff. Our VE street party has been postponed until further notice, but rest assured “We’ll Meet Again”. See the Covid-19 section for help available.

Tilty Archaeology & Local History Group The General Meeting due to take place on Tuesday 12th May has been cancelled. The fate of the July meeting is uncertain, but information will be available in due course on the Group’s website http://www.tiltyhistoryprojects.co.uk/.

GREAT EASTON

Great Easton Soapbox Race and Community Event Saturday 5th September

The Soapbox Committee write: What strange times we live in! Major events such as the Grand National, the British Open and Wimbledon, have been cancelled. Many important local events have had to be cancelled or postponed, including Dunmow’s Soapbox Race and Victory in Europe celebrations. In one way or another Covid-19 has affected every one of us.

We are still hopeful that by the time we get to September, things may be back to normal, or at least near normal. In view of this, we continue to plan to run the race and all the other attractions that go with it. Indeed, by then we will all probably be looking for something to celebrate! Notwithstanding, we recognise that our stall holders, racers and our suppliers need to plan too, so we will continue to monitor the situation and will make a final decision in July.

We realise that with so much uncertainty, it is difficult to commit to something that may not happen. However, we would like to urge anyone planning to or even thinking of, entering a cart, to register as normal. If the event does not go ahead you will be reimbursed. There are only so many jobs you can do in the garden, while we are all confined to quarters, so why not use some of the time to build that family cart? We were planning to run workshops for those of you that are looking for advice or guidance as to how to build a cart that is fun to run and importantly, safe too. We are looking into ways that we might do this virtually, so please keep a close eye on the Great Easton Village Group Facebook page for information on this.

LITTLE EASTON

News from The Gardens of Easton Lodge Jill Goldsmith writes: I have reflected on the Gardens in May over the last three years, to give an idea of what we might look forward to when this is all over. In May the Gardens are still fresh and bedecked with pink and white – lupins and geraniums in the Italian garden; cow parsley and the first orchids in the glade with the handkerchief tree wafting overhead; and foxgloves and campion everywhere. 9 Looking back, 2017 saw the start of new features to the glade, with the rill running over its new flint bed and the stumpery taking shape. Since then we have welcomed additional volunteers, increasing volunteering hours from 458 in 2017 to 753 in 2019. The new Japanese garden at the bottom of the glade now has structures and acers are becoming established. In 2018 we fully planted the walled kitchen garden with vegetables for the first time, and now the dahlia border, fruit trees and a full range of fruit and vegetables provide interest through the season.

In May 2017 we were busy fundraising for the treehouse, which was open to visitors in June. In 2018 we held our first fun day for dogs, very appropriate, given the Countess of Warwick’s love of dogs. Our visitors loved the dog classes so much that in 2019 we moved the fun day to June, and instead our May open day explored nature in the Gardens.

We wish you all the best for May 2020. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Gardens. We hope to step straight back into fundraising for restoring the balustrade. For our latest news, see our website www.eastonlodge.co.uk. You can sign up to a monthly newsletter here or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you would like to provide financial support to the Gardens at this difficult time, go to the fundraising page.

AROUND AND ABOUT PINK MOON

This photograph was taken by Ron Gilder on the night of 7th April. A Pink Moon is a rare spectacle, the result of several space phenomena occurring at once. The name is slightly deceiving because rather than pink, the moon actually appears a slightly pale orange. A Pink Moon is a type of super moon, which occurs when a new or full moon is unusually close to Earth. The name appears to have arisen from Native Americans who named it after a creeping phlox, a pink wildflower that blooms in spring in the eastern United States.

BRAINTREE FOODBANK

The Foodbank is running a reduced service, just giving out food and keeping clients’ visits to their centres short. They have been amazed by and grateful for the number of people volunteering to help on a temporary basis and are continuing to operate with their volunteers aged under 70. Donations of money are particularly welcome in these desperate times. Payment details: Braintree Area Foodbank, Sort code 40-52-40, Account No. 00029229. Thank you so much.

UDC AND THE LOCAL PLAN

An Extraordinary Council Meeting was called for 30th April when Councillors will consider and vote on a recommendation to withdraw the Uttlesford Local Plan on the basis of concerns by government-appointed Inspectors and independent advice from the Peer Review Team.

STANSTED AIRPORT

On 14th April we learned that a car park at the Airport was being turned into a drive-in testing centre for NHS staff. The need for increased testing has been stressed repeatedly in recent weeks as a key part of the battle to combat the virus. NHS staff will be able to book appointments to get themselves or family members tested at the centre. 10 THE HUNDRED PARISHES SOCIETY www.hundredparishes.org.uk

Many of us are familiar with pillboxes, those squat concrete buildings dotted around the countryside, often overgrown and merged with the landscape. Many will be aware of their connection to the Second World War but their origins go further back, being developed in the First World War. Early constructions were of a circular shape, hence the term pillbox. In the Second World War they were first used by the British Expeditionary Force in Flanders.

The last batch of pillboxes was built almost 80 years ago to resist a possible invasion of this country. Thousands were installed in 1940-41, many in coastal locations or in defensive lines across the south and . Others were built to form a box around London, but stray examples appear in other places. Pillboxes varied from the one-man Tett Turret to big emplacements for two pounder anti-tank guns. The most common shape was hexagonal. It is thought that about 15,000 were constructed, of which perhaps two-thirds survive.

Within the Hundred Parishes about 45 were built, mainly as part of a line stretching between Chelmsford and , often beside the Chelmer and Cam rivers which formed a natural anti-tank barrier. In Great Waltham parish a “World War Two Trail” of around 4 miles passes thirteen surviving pillboxes. The pillboxes were virtually obsolete as soon as they were built, being designed for an invasion that never came.

AMAZON UK

Amazon have committed £3.2 million to support those in the UK who are most affected by the COVID-19 crisis, including a donation to the British Red Cross and a fund to support local organisations in communities where their employees live and work.

IN A REFLECTIVE MOOD

This is the time to be slow, If you remain generous, Lie low to the wall Time will come good; Until the bitter weather passes. And you will find your feet Try, as best you can, not to let Again on fresh pastures of promise, The wire brush of doubt Where the air will be kind Scrape from your heart And blushed with beginning. All sense of yourself And your hesitant light. John O’Donohue

Frank Warboys has shared with us a message he sent to his fellow bell ringers:

I miss the ringing of our bells, All these restrictions are a pain I miss the ringers too; Which people have to bear; The music we can make excels But time will pass, bells ring again Those “stay-home” things we do. Let’s hope we’ll all be there.

All in, all together. STAY for the NHS, your family, your neighbours, your nation, the world and life itself

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12 For colouring …